Case Number 09779: Small Claims Court

THE TOY CASTLE: BEAUTIFUL BALLERINA

The Charge

Toys will be toys.

The Case

Sick of your preschoolers watching SpongeBob? Or bellowing at the television
along with Dora? Or playing with blocks? The makers of The Toy Castle
have an alternative for you: ballet! Yes, through the grace and fluidity that is
men prancing around on the stage in junk-revealing tights, The Toy Castle
offers a differing take on storytelling for the young. Stories are told
primarily through dance, propelled by a narrator and the occasional over-dubbed
vocal work.

Here's the skinny: when these two kids go to sleep each night, their toy
castle spring to life, and the dolls start dancing around like crazy, embarking
on that evening's story. Plots are simple, usually something like "We
forgot her birthday!" or "Sharing is fun!" The stories themselves
are brief, clocking in at a shade south of ten minutes each. The major players
are designed to be as one-dimensional as possible, as if they were indeed toys
come to life, and include: Rag Doll, Sailor, Soldier, Ballerina, Strongman,
Goblin, China Doll, Frederick and Freda the bipedal frogs, Clown, and the Mouse
Family.

This disc gathers 12 episodes starring Ballerina as she lands in a series of
low-impact misadventures:

So, will your kids like it? I don't see why not. The costuming and
production design are very good, and stories, while very, very simplistic, are
tuned that way for a reason. The Toy Castle is, after all, geared toward
preschoolers. There's even a moral or two tucked in there. This particular
collection may be ideal for little girls, what with Ballerina as the central
character. Recommended for parents looking for something decidedly different
than the typical cartoon-based stimulus.

Each disc contains bonus "Learn to Dance" segments, where
characters run through some beginning ballet moves. Games and activities are
available through DVD-ROM.